Veronica plant named ‘Balskywink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Balskywink’, characterized by its medium reddish-purple colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Veronica hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balskywink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronicaplant botanically known as Veronica hybrid and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balskywink’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inCochranville, Pa., during November 2016. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Veronica cultivars that have attractivecolored inflorescences, strong stems and a compact, upright growthhabit.

The new Veronica cultivar was the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the proprietary Veronica spicata breedingselection coded X14-6480-4, not patented, characterized by its mediumpink-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is First Love ‘Allove’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,478,characterized by its intense red-purple colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous upright, invertedtriangle growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during September 2017 in a controlled environment inCochranville, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceSeptember 2017 in Cochranville, Pa. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balskywink’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Veronica plant:

-   -   1. Medium reddish-purple colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having longer inflorescences and a more upright growthhabit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parentprimarily in having darker green-colored foliage and a lighterreddish-purple flower color.

Of the many commercially available Veronica cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 25,748. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Novaverpin’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter racemes than plants        of ‘Novaverpin’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have darker reddish-purple colored        flowers than plants of ‘Novaverpin’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers per        inflorescence than plants of ‘Novaverpin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balskywink’. The plants were approximately four months old and grownthree plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately twomonths in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. Plantswere given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant andanother one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balskywink’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of inflorescences of ‘Balskywink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2022 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximatelyfour-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownin a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable tothose used in commercial practice. Approximately six weeks aftersticking, rooted plants were transplanted three plants per one-galloncontainers utilizing a soilless growth medium and grown for three weeks.Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in WestChicago, Ill. and grown for approximately two months. Plants were givenone pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another oneweek after transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in linersin a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C.to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C.to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica hybrid ‘Balskywink’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Veronica spicata breeding            selection coded X14-6480-4, not patented.        -   Male parent.—First Love ‘Allove’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.            21,478.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderately vigorous, compact, upright.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−31.7° C. to            −28.9° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 33.0 cm. Width: Approximately 38.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 7.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Branch height to bottom of            inflorescence: Approximately 20.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with            appressed and curled hairs. Color of young stems: 146B.            Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming woody 200D with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 16. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Narrowly            ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Rounded.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 8.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            2.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent only on            venation. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to NN137A. Color of lower surface of young            and mature foliage: Closest to 137C. Venation of upper and            lower surface: 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately            3.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balskywink’ is a long-day facultative,            freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming            from late spring through summer.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme, self-cleaning.            Fragrance: None detected. Height: Approximately 8.0 cm to            10.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 5.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect and acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with appressed and curled hairs. Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Aspect:            Outward. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 90.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: N66D.        -   Corolla.—Height: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 9.0 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base:            Fused into tube. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first            and fully open: Closest to but lighter than NN74D. Color of            lower surface when first and fully open NN74D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tube            opening: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of pubescence: NN155D. Texture of            outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner and outer surfaces:            Lighter than NN74D with NN155D at base.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Depth: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Lanceolate, fused at            base. Apex: Acute. Length: Two larger sepals approximately            3.0 mm and two smaller sepals approximately 2.0 mm. Width of            all sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:            Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 137A            with 146D at base.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Approximately            45° angle from peduncle. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.            Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per            flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color:            75C. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: N81B. Pollen amount:            Sparse. Pollen color: 2D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per            flower. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape:            Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 86A.            Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: N82B. Ovary            length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Veronica has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plantnamed ‘Balskywink’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.